Feeding mechanism for gas-producers



J. F. ROGERS AND J. SIMCCLIMON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

APPLSCMION FILED 02030 I918.

1,330,749. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET i.

J. FQROGERS AND J. s. McCLlMON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC.30 l9l8.

Patent-ed Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

9&2.

,A ,1 AWHHAN \\..\\W IA m. W .M W5 If 1%, w /lI/I J. F. ROGERS AND J. 5. McCLlMON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GASv PRODUCERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-30. I918.

- Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3- UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. ROGERS, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, AND JAY S. MCCLIMON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE WELLMAN-SEAYER-MORGAN COMPANY, OF CLEVE- LAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS-PRODUCERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed December so, 1918. Serial No. 268,960.

. land, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feeding Mechanism for Gas-Producers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The principal objects of this invention are to periodically deliver measured charges of fuel into a rotatable. gas producer at points therein best calculated to maintain a level top surface of the fuel'bed; to vary the size of the fuel charges, so periodically delivered, to suit the varying conditions within the producer, but withoutwaryrng the points in the producer at which said fuel charges are delivered; to minimize the friction incident to operating the fuel feeding mechanism, while maintaining at all times an effectual seal against the escape of gas from the producer past .the fuel feeding mechanism; and generally to provide a practically efficient fuel feeding apparatus.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said fuel feeding mechanism; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of one end of the fuel delivery valve and the mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of said feeding mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof with the chute wall partly broken away in two places.

This invention is especially intended for use in connection with a gas producer having a rotatable body, and a non-rotating top,

- of which many specific varieties are known.

mechanism by which passage of the fuel,

' tion with under the influence of gravity, through the chute is regulated and controlled tothe end that definite quantities of fuel shall be periodically fed into the producer at predetermined points within said producer.

The base member 10 of the chute is formed with a semi-cylindrical top surface 12 through which is a downwardly extended fuel passage 13 that is in open communicathe producer through a hole 8 in the non-rotating producer top 9, upon which the chute base is secured. I

The. semi-cylindrical top surface 12 of the chute base serves as a valve seat to which a rotatable cylindrical fuel valve 30 is fitted. A four-sided chute member 10 is secured upon the base member; and in its sides at their lower ends are semi-circular recesses. 10 which embrace, but preferably do not come into actual contact with the valve, near the ends thereof, although they come as close as practical without actual contact.

The valve 30 contains a plurality ets 31, extending from one cylinder end 36 to the other. This pocketed valve is formed with a central hub 35, radial partitions 34:, end plates 36, and co-axial trunnions 37, 37, at its ends. The cylindrical wall of the valve takes the form of backwardly' extended flanges 38 on the outer edges of the partitions 34.

of pock v Yoke plates 39 are secured to the outergo over these trunnions; and each of these yoke plates is formed with semi-cylindrical bearings 39 which engage the upper halves of the associated trunnions. The valve, therefore, has bearings which prevent it from moving radially. But the lower half of the bearing is that furnished by the concave valve seat, while the upper half of the bearings are furnished by the two external half bearings 39*. The area of these external bearin surfaces is relatively small. The engaging surfaces can be kept thoroughly lubricated, and are not liable to have tar and coal dust deposited upon them, as is the case with respect to the valve seat and surface of the valve, when in actual service. The mechanism for turning the valve need not, therefore, be so strong, nor is as much power required to turn the valve as would e the case if the upper part of the cylindrical valve was in engaging relation with extended bearing surfaces upon which the tar and coal dust could be deposited.

The chute member 10 is intended to have its upper end in open communication with the fuel bin. Below this upper end a part 10 of this upper chute member is inclined forward and downward. In this inclined part of the chute a rotatable fuel measuring and feeding device is mounted, in position to support the column of fuel above it, and prevent the free flow of fuel down the chute into the chamber 10 into which the upper part of the valve 30 projects. This measuring and feeding device 20 has a hub 21 and a plurality of radial partitions 22 Which form a plurality of peripheral fuel pockets 23. A shaft 24 goes through and is keyed to the hub, and is rotatably mounted in bearings supported by the sides of the chute. The periphery of this device 20 is so close to a'curved lower portion 10 of the lower wall of the chute that fuel can not 'pass between them; and is so far from the upper inclined wall 10 of the chute that lumps of fuel are not likely to be caught between it and said device.

This device 20 is turned in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 3 by mechanism to be presently described. As each pocket 23 passes upward under the column of fuel it becomes filled; and these pockets full of fuel are carried over the top of the device and dropped periodically into the chamber 10 and onto the valve 30. The fuel so periodically discharged from the device 20 will distribute itself with substantial uniformity in the pockets of the intermittently turning fuel valve 30. These pockets 31, however, will never be full because the device 20 when turned at the maximum speed possible relative to the speed of the valve has not the capacity of discharging enough fuel to fill these pockets in the valve. Therefore, as the valve turns in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 3 there is very little chance that any fuel will spill out over the edge of the flange 38. There is very little chance that any fuel lum will project beyond the peripheral walof the pocket, and get caught between the front wall of the'chute and the next following partition 34. In fact, if any fuel gets into the space between the frontwall of the chute and the valve, instead of into the pockets of the valve, this fuel is almost certain to fall into a pocket, as the mouth of that pocket passes the point where the fuel lump has lodged. If by any chance any lump of fuel should, in spite of the precautions taken to prevent it, get caught between the valve and the front wall of the chute, the mechanism can be stopped; the fuel valve can be turned backward, as by a lever inserted in holes 41 in one projecting trunnion of the valve (the valve operating mechanism permits this backward movement). The offending lump of fuel may then be reached and dislodged through an opening 10 in the front wall of the chute. This opening is commonly closed by a door 42 which is held closed by gravity but opens outwardly freely as if the valve should force a lump of fuel against it.

The fuel delivery valve 30 and the fuel measuring and feeding device 20 may have intermittent rotary motion imparted to them from a rock shaft 50. This rock shaft may and preferably should be oscillated by a train of mechanism such as'is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, one end of said train of mechanism being connected with an arm 51 fixed to the rock shaft while the other end of the train of mechanism may engage a crank 100 fast to one ofthe rotating shafts of that train of mechanism which turns the producer.

An arm 52 fixed to this rock shaft is connected by a link 53 with a. plate 54 which'is mounted to rock on one end of the shaft 37' of the fuel valve. This plate carries one or more paWls 55 that automatically engage a ratchet 56 fixed to this shaft. Therefore, as this rock shaft 50 is rocked synchronously with the movement of the producer, the valve 30 will at intervals be turned arcual distances determined by the rocking movements of plate 54, with the result that the valve pockets will discharge their contents 100 into the producer at redetermined points therein so as to proper y distribute the coal.

A ratchet 60 is fixed to the projecting end of the shaft to which the fuel measuring and feeding device is secured. A plate 61 is mounted'to rock on this shaft and it carries one or more pawls 63 which automatically engage with the ratchet 60. This rocking plate is connected by a link 64 with a block 65 that is carried by and may be adjusted lengthwise of an arm 66 fixed to the rock shaft 50. In the construction shown this arm is in the form of an open rectangular frame. A screw 67 is mounted to rotate in the ends of this frame and screws through the block 65.. The upper side 66 of the frame is graduated and the block 65 is provided with an indicator finger 65*, and a crank 68 is fixed to the end of the screw.

. prevent When the valve is out. To attain these plate device are changed, but it has no effect in varying the quantity of fuel in each pocket. The regulation of the quantity of fuel fed during a given eriod is attained by varying the frequency of discharging the pockets full of fuel. By the aid of the graduations on the arm the block 65 may be intelligently put into a position to cause fuel to be fed by the device at any desired known rate.

Each pocket in the measuring and feeding device becomesfull as the device turns,

because the chute above this device is always full of fuel. Each pocketful of fuel is discharged into the chamber and finds its way into it and distributes itself with substantial uniformity in the exposed pockets of the valve 30. And these pockets in the fuel valve are periodically emptied into the producer, and fall upon such predetermined parts of the fuel bed therein as best contributes to keeping the'top surface of bed level,regardless of whether the fuel charges so delivered into the producer are large or small.

It is sometimes necessary to repair; fuel feeding mechanism of this general character; and sometimes the making of the repairs involves the removal of the fuel feeding valve. Obviously it is desirable to keep the producer in operation while the repairs are being made, and it is likewise necessary to the loss of gas from the producer results, slots 10 are formed in the side walls of the chute base below the valve seat. A slide or plate valve 75 is then passed through one of these slots and across the chuteand into the other slot,--said slide being of such width as to entirely close the fuel passage 13. On each side of the chute base is an outwardly extended flange 10; and on these, at the ends of the slots 1O are the upwardly extended lugs 10*, in the proximate faces of which are vertical grooves 10". A

plate '7 6 is fitted to these grooves, and rests upon the base flange 10. Then sand or clay is put into the pockets bounded by the side walls of the chute, the lugs 10 and the removable plate 7 6, said sand or clay covering and closing the slots 10". This sand seal is emplo ed to close the slots 10 when the 5 is extended across the fuel passage 13, and also when it has been removed after the repairs have been made and the fuel feeding mechanism restored to its operative condition as shown.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets, a rotagas producer and whose upper end is adaptmeans for turning said measuring and feed-v table fuel feeding and measuring device mounted in said chute above the valve in position to support a column of fuel in the chute above it, means for imparting step by step rotary motion to said valve, means for imparting step by step rotary motion to said measuring and feeding device, and means to vary the arcual extent of each movement of said feeding and measuring device without varying the arcual extent of the step by step movements of the valve.

2. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas pro ducers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with the ed to be placed in open communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end,which valve hasa plurality of peripheral pockets, a rotatable fuel feeding and measuring device mounted in said chute above the valve in position to support a column of fuel in the chute' above it, which feeding and measuring device has a plurality of peripheral pockets,

ing device in the direction which causes the open mouth of said pockets to move upward as it passes beneath the supported column of fuel whereby the pockets of said device will become filled and the fuel will be carried upward over the top of said fuel feeding device, and means for turning said valve.

3. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer, and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with a" source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower 'end,-which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets, means which operate synchronously with respect to the mechanism which turns theproducer for imparting step by step rotary movements to said valve, means for periodically discharging measured charges of fuel 1 into the chute upon said valve, and means for varying the interval between successive discharges of said measured fuel charges onto said valve.

4;. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas roducers, the combination of a chute w ose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed inopen communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end,-which valve has a plurality ofperipheral pockets and a trunnion proJecting out of the chute at one end, a ratchet wheel fixed to said trunnion, a rocking .plate rotatably mounted upon said trunnion, a pawl carried by said rocking plate for engaging with said ratchet wheel, a rocker, mechanism driven by the mechanism, which turns the producer for oscillating the rocker, rotatable fuel measuring and feeding device in said chute above sald valve imposition to support a column of fuel in the chute above it,-which device has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a ratchet wheel; and links which connect said rocker and the two pawl carrying plates.

5. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas roducers, the combination of a chute W ose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion projecting out of the chute at one end, a ratchet wheel fixed to said trunnion, a rocking plate rotatably mounted upon said trunnion carrying a pawl for engaging with said ratchet wheel, a'rotatable fuel measuring and feeding device in said chute above said valve in position to support a column of fuel in the chute above it which device has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion at one end, a ratchet fixed to said trunnion, a pawl carrying plate mounted to oscillate upon said trunnion having a pawl for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a rocker having two arms, means for oscillating said rocker, a link connecting one arm of the rocker with the pawl carrying plate associated with the valve, a link connecting the other arm of the rocker with the pawl carrying plate associated with the fuel feeding and measuring device, and means for shifting the point of connection between the last named link and rocker arm toward and away from the axis of the rocker.

6. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with 'the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion projecting out of the chute at one end, a ratchet wheel fixed to said trunnion, a rocking plate rotatably mounted upon said trunnion carrying a pawl for engaging withsaid ratchet wheel, a rotatable fuel measuring and feeding device in said chute above said valve in position to support a column of fuel in the chute ahiove it, which device has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion at one end, a ratchet fixed to said trunnion, a pawl carrying plate mounted to oscillate upon said trunnion having a pawl for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a rocker shaft having two arms, means for rocking said rocker, a link con necting one arm of the rocker with the pawl carrying plate associated with the valve, a block slidably mounted upon said rock shaft arm and movable toward and from the axis thereof to which said link is pivoted, means for sliding the block along said arm, and a link connecting said block with the pawl carrying plate associated with the fuel feeding and measuring device.

7. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with asource of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said'chute near its lower end which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion projecting out of the chute at one end, a ratchet wheel fixed to said trunnion, a rocking plate rotatably mounted upon said trunnion carrying a pawl for engaging with said ratchet wheel, a rotatable fuel measuring and feeding device in said chute above said valve in position to support a column of fuel in the chute above it which device has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion at one end, a ratchet fixed to said trunnion, a pawl carrying plate mounted to oscillate upon said trunnion having a pawl for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a rocker having two arms, means for rocking said rocker, a link connecting one arm of the rocker with the pawl carrying plate associated with the valve, a block slidably mounted upon said IOck shaft arm and movable toward and from the axis thereof to.

link connecting said block with the pawl carrying plate associated with the fuel feeding and measuring device.

8. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute whose lower end is in open communication with the gas producer and whose upper end is adapted to be placed in open communication with a source of fuel, a rotatable fuel valve in said chute near its lower end which valve has a plurality of peripheral pockets and a trunnion projectin out of the chute at one end, a ratchet w eel fixed to said trunnion, a rocking plate rotatably mounted upon said trunnion carrying a pawl for engaging with said ratchet wheel, a rotatable pawl carrying plate associated with the valve, a block slidably mounted upon said rock shaft arm and movable toward and from the axis thereof to which said link is pivoted, means for sliding the block along said arm, and a link connecting said block with the. pawl carryin plate associated with the fuel feeding and measuring device, said arm having graduations, and the block havin a cooperating pointer.

' 9. n fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute formed near its lower end with a semi-cylindrical valve seat through which is an opening leading downward to the lower end of the chute, a rotatable cylindrical fuel valve which is fitted to and supportedin said seat and is formed with a plurality of peripheral pockets and is provided on its ends with trunnions, fixed semi cylindrical bearings outside of the chute engaging the upper halves of the projecting valve trunnions, and means imparting step by step rotary movements to said valve.

10. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination 3 of a chute formed near its lower end with a semi-cylindrical valve seat throughwhich is an opening leading downward to the lower end of the chute, a rotatable cylindrical fuel valve which is fitted to and supported in said seat and is formed with a plurality of peripheral pockets and is provided on its ends with trunnions, fixed semi-cylindrical bearings outside of the chute engaging the upper halves of the projecting valve trunnions, means imparting step by step rotary movements to said valve, and means for, periodically discharging measured charges of fuel directly into that part of the chute into which the upper half of said fuel valve proj ects.

- part of 11. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute having a base member whose upper surface is in the form of a semi-cylindrical valve seat, there being a fuel passage through said valve seat to the bottom of said base member, a cylindrical fuel valve which is fitted to and r0- tatably mounted in said seat and is formed with a plurality of'peripheral pockets having closed ends, an upper chute member secured to the base member substantially as described whereby the valve projects into said upper chute member, means imparting step by step arcual movements to said fuel valve, means for periodically discharging into that of the valve projects measured charges of fuel.

12. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute having a base member whose upper surface is in the form of a semi-cylindrical valve seat, there being a fuel passage through said valve the chute into which the upper half seat to the bottom of said base member, a cylindrical fuel valve which is fitted to and rotatably mounted in said seat and is formed with a plurality of peripheral pockets hav ing closed ends, an upper chute member secured to the base member substantially as described whereby the valve projects into said upper chute member but does not have contact therewith, means imparting step by step arcual movements, to said fuel valve, means for periodically discharging intothat part of the chute into which the upper half of the valve projects measured charges of fuel, and means for varying the intervals between successive discharges of said measured fuel charges.

13. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute, a base member whose upper end is in the form of a semi-cylindrical valve seat, and a chute member secured to said base member, a cylin- --drical fuel valve which is fitted to and supported by said valve Within the chute, said valve having end plates and substantially radial blades each of which supports a rearwardly extended flange whose outer surface is a part of the cylindrical surface of the valve.

14-. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination of a chute having a base member whose upper end is in the form of a semi-cylindrical valve seat there bem a passage through said valve seat to the ottom of said base member, a chute member secured to the end of said base member and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined portion, a cylindrical fuel valve which is fitted to and rotatably supported upon said valve seat and projects into the lower end of the chute member above the valve seat, said fuel valve having a plurality of peripheral pockets, a cylindrical fuelfeeding and measuring device rotatably mounted in the inclined close.to the lower incline wall thereof and at a substantial distance from the upper inclined wall thereof said mechanism and feeding device having a plurality of peripheral pockets and being located in the chute in position to support a column of fuel, means for imparting to the valve step by step arcu a1 movements, means for imparting to the fuel measuring and feeding device step by step arcual movements in the direction which carries the open mouths of the peripheral pockets upward through the column of fuel above it.

15. In fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers,'the combination of a chute, a fuel valve rotatably mounted therein near its lower end, a valve seat to which said valve is fitted supported by said chute, said fuel valve having a plurality of peripheral pockets which are exposed within the chute above the valve seat, a cylindrical fuel measuring art of said chute and feeding device rotatably mounted in the In testimony \\l1e1'e0i",'we hereunto aflix (hute above the valve and having a plurality our signatures. of peripheral pockets, means to impart step TOHY F ROGERS by step arena] movements to said valve and 5, M N 5 to said fuel measuring and feeding device,

. and means to vary the extent of each zu'cual Witnesses:

movement of the fuel feeding and measuring ROBERT /VETHERILL, J12,

device. VINCENT I. AURAND. 

